US, July 13 -- The world's largest people-to-people industry contributes trillions to the global economy and connects nations like no other sector. Yet tourism remains politically underrepresented. Governments must stop treating tourism as a promotional activity and start recognizing it as a strategic pillar of national governance. For centuries, tourism has been treated as a pleasant by-product of economic prosperity rather than as one of its principal drivers. Governments have traditionally viewed travel as an extension of culture, recreation or hospitality-a sector that promotes destinations, welcomes visitors and fills hotel rooms. It has been rewarded with dedicated ministries, tourism boards and promotional agencies, but rarely with...